With Serious Implications Set Aside, All-Star Game Loosens Its Collar

“I didn’t know the rule changed,” said Cano, who replaced the injured Starlin Castro of the Yankees. “Now you don’t have to win to start the World Series. When I found out, I said, ‘I might get an at-bat — now it don’t mean anything.’

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“I really, honestly, like that way. That way, you’re able now to joke around, make the game more fun, like the way it used to be before. That’s what people and fans love now these days, especially joking around with social media.”

Cano, who was named the most valuable player, punctuated the plight of the Chicago Cubs, who are under .500 and count Davis as their only All-Star. The Cubs won the World Series last November, but only Davis — who was not on the team then — accompanied Manager Joe Maddon and his staff to the All-Star Game.

“It was a Cubs pitcher,” said the A.L. manager, Brad Mills, the bench coach of the Cleveland Indians, who lost the World Series to Chicago. “That was kind of nice.”

The Yankees’ Aaron Judge, who launched homers all over Marlins Park in the Home Run Derby on Monday, went 0 for 3 in his All-Star debut, with a strikeout, groundout and…